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         Saturday, November 12, 2011        

Indian Trails hires library director who was
involved in major property tax scandal at last job

The scandals just keep on coming and keep on getting bigger at the Indian Trails Public Library District.  This time, it's really bizarre.

The Indian Trails Library has been taken to court and brought before the State Board of Elections for violating both the Illinois Election Code and the State Constitution for using thousands of tax dollars to rig the outcome of this year's massive property tax increase referendum.

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The Library lied to voters, to trick them into voting for the referendum, by claiming that approval of the referendum would result in "no change in the Library portion of your tax bill" and "NO INCREASE IN YOUR TOTAL TAX PAYMENT."  (See page 2 of the four-page glossy brochure that they mailed out to registered voters.)

The former Library director, Thomas Simiele, quit his job the week after I filed my first Complaint against the Library.  He may have fled the State to avoid prosecution for using public funds for political purposes.  Rumor has it he's hiding somewhere in Ohio.

So, how did the Indian Trails Board of Trustees respond to being involved in what is likely the biggest public library district property tax scandal in the history of America?  They hired David Seleb, who was at the center of what is likely the second biggest public library district property tax scandal in history.

David Seleb used to be the Director of the Winnetka-Northfield Library District.  Last year, Mr. Seleb, according to the Winnetka Library Board, "misadvised the Trustees as to the Library District's [property] tax levy authority," causing "unnecessary discord ... in the community."  (See the Winnetka Library's Director's Blog for December 17, 2010.)  (Back-up link.)

Seleb responded by saying, in that same document, "I misunderstood information provided to me" and "I regret this error and the incorrect information that I provided to the Library District's Board of Trustees."

The Library Board promised that "the tax levy incident will be among the issues to be considered by the Trustees during the Director's annual performance review."  In other words, the likelihood of Seleb getting a raise or even being allowed to keep his job was in serious doubt.

Seleb apparently knew that it was time to get the Hell out of Dodge and see if he could find another library district willing to hire Damaged Goods to be their library director.  He didn't have to look far.

In the October 1, 2011, edition of "It's happening @ the Library," Wally Salganik, President of the Indian Trails Board of Trustees, says, "David Seleb has a proven track record in providing effective leadership to previous libraries..."  Sure, Wally, and it was those "effective leadership" skills that inspired Seleb to flee the Winnetka Library, almost as fast as Simiele fled the Indian Trails Library, right?

In this article in the Chicago Tribune, Salganik was quoted as saying about Seleb, "We like his track record.  We like his communication skills."  Huh?

What an embarrassment to our fine community, that the best that the Indian Trails Library Board could do to try to recover from one of the two worst public library district property tax scandals in the nation's history was to hire the person who was at the center of the other worst public library district property tax scandal in the nation's history.

That would be like hiring a Roman Catholic priest to take over for the football coach at Penn State who got caught molesting little boys in the shower, while driving and in the basement of his home.

Everybody on the Indian Trails Library Board who voted to hire Seleb ought to resign.

And one more thing:  The last paragraph of "It's happening @ the Library," which is a newsletter that is published by the government and certainly subject to release in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, contains the following warnings:  "This communication is intended to be and to remain confidential."  "Do not delivery, distribute or copy this message."  "Do not disclose the contents or take any action in reliance upon the information contained in the communication."

I just did all those things, Wally.  I can understand why you wouldn't want your remarks about Seleb disclosed publicly, because it makes you look really stupid, Wally, but what are you and the Board going to do about it?  Sue me?

Go ahead.  I dare you.

Previous Rob Sherman News stories about the Indian Trails Public Library District scandal:

Friday, August 19:  Attorney for Indian Trails Library essentially admits guilt by his client

Thursday, August 11:  Judge to hear Motion to Reconsider in Indian Trails Library referendum case

Tu, Aug 9: Courts OK unconstitutional expenditures by govt as long as govt keeps it a secret until money is spent

Saturday, August 6:  Sherman files Motion to Reconsider in Indian Trails Library electioneering case

Saturday, July 30:  Judge rules citizens have no recourse when government violates our constitutional rights

Friday, July 29:  Judge to rule today on Sherman lawsuit against Indian Trails Library

Thursday, June 16:  Board of Elections strengthens finding against Indian Trails in electioneering scandal

Tuesday, June 14:  Board of Elections to hear "Motion for reconsideration" in Sherman v. Indian Trails

Friday, June 3:  First court hearing held yesterday in Indian Trails Library referendum scandal

Wednesday, May 18:  Sherman files suit to void Library referendum

Monday, May 16:  5 Buffalo Grove neighbors to file suit against Indian Trails to void library referendum

Saturday, May 7:  Indian Trails paid thousands to political consultant for campaign purposes

Thursday, May 5:  Indian Trails used tax dollars to pay for political campaign strategy to shift undecided voters

Wednesday, May 4:  Is "The Fix" in at Board of Elections regarding Indian Trails electioneering scandal?

Tuesday, May 3:  Indian Trails to host game of "Fact or Fiction"

Sunday, May 1:  Transcript proves Board of Elections found Complaint against Indian Trails was justified

Friday, April 29:  Indian Trails again tries to scam Board of Elections into issuing fake Final Report

Thursday, April 28:  New Complaint against Indian Trails filed with Board of Elections by Sherman

Wednesday, April 27:  Indian Trails Library's latest scam is their biggest electioneering fraud of them all

Saturday, April 23:  Indian Trails hemorrhaging tax dollars on defense law firms in electioneering scandal

Friday, April 22: Rich Means demands copy of all records from Indian Trails in referendum electioneering scandal

Thurs., April 21:  Board of Elections rules that complaint against Indian Trails Library filed on justifiable grounds

Tuesday, April 19:  Board of Elections "would be a laughingstock" to approve report, says Election Law attorney

Monday, April 18:  Is "The Fix" in at State Board of Elections regarding Indian Trails referendum scandal?

Thurs, April 14: Hearing Officer declares Indian Trails slogans "not an appeal to vote for or against" referendum

Tuesday, April 12: State Board of Elections holds first hearing on Indian Trails referendum electioneering scandal

Saturday, April 9: New smoking gun in Indian Trails scandal: Library Director resigns, may have fled the State!

Thursday, April 7:  Sherman working to reverse Indian Trails stolen referendum victory

Tuesday, April 5:  Another smoking gun in the Indian Trails referendum scandal

Sunday, April 3:  Smoking gun proves Indian Trails knew referendum scandal materials were illegal

Friday, April 1:  Indian Trails Library not worthy of receiving additional tax dollars

Th, 3/31:  Sherman files complaint with Board of Elections to void Indian Trails Library tax increase referendum

Saturday, March 26:  Indian Trails Library illegally using tax dollars to promote passage of tax-hike referendum

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